Crane.



No. 758,254. iATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

"0. .H. HO'WLAND-SH'ERMAN.

, 01mm. APPLICATION FILED D2017 19 02. RENEWED SEPT. 30, 19.03.

no 1 :01am.

UNITED STATES Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HOVVLAND-SHERMAN, OF BALTIMORE MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THEHOWLAND-SHERMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WIL- MINGTON, DELAWARE, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 758,254, dated April26, 1904.

Application filed December 17, 1902. Renewed September 30, 1903. SerialNo. 175,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HowL No- SHERMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,

are adapted to turn on a central pivot carriedby a fixed ormovablysupported pedestal, the special feature of the invention being toprovide means for quickly removing a worn stepbearing block andsubstituting a new one by a simple operation attended with the removalof but few parts.

A second feature of my invention relates to the manner of automaticallylubricating simultaneously the step-bearing and-the cylindrical bearingportion of the foot-step where it turns in its fixed supporting-sleeve.

Other features of my invention will be referred to 'in the accompanyingspecification and illustrated in the drawingsattached.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents the invention applied to avertically-pivoted jibcrane mounted ona car or truck. Figs. 2, 3,

and L are details.

A car or truck a of any suitableconstruction and mounted on wheels 5,running on rails, supports in vertical position a cylin drical sleeve 0,having a flange (Z at each end, by means of which flanges the sleeve 0is firmly bolted to the frame of the car a. Closely fitting the bore ofthe sleeve 0, but adapted to rotate or move vertically therein, isplaced a cylindrical body or foot-step 6, extending a greater or lesserheight above the sleeve and having formed on its upper end a'flangef, towhich the extension-column g of the crane is bolted. To theextension'nolumn g is bolted the mast it of the crane. J The boom andother appurtenances being secured to the mast, the entire weight of thecrane and its load is carried by the foot-step c. A groove "i is turnedin the outside of the foot-step 6, within which is fitted a split collarbolted to the upper flange-d of the sleeve 0, thus forming a dust-tightjoint. The groove dis, as shown, slightly wider than-the thick'ness ofthe split collar, thus allowing for wear of thebearingsurface of thefoot-step. If desired, a flange may be formed on the foot-step in placeof the groove 2' or the wall thickened, in which case the collar j maybe made integral or entirely omitted. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) i Thefoot-step e is hollowed 'out to form a reservoir, as at k, and when in.use is filled with oil through the pipe Z to about the level of thesplit collar. The height of the'oil in the reservoir may beincreased'sufliciently to give it a head or pressure great enough tocause it (the oil) to flow in an upward direction between the sleeve andthe foot-step, the bearing being thus made self-cleaning. The lower endof the sleeve 0 is closed by a head or plate m, bolted to the lowerflange cl of the sleeve, and provided with two or more 11131 wardlyprojecting steady-pins a and an outlet-cock 0.

- Supported on the head or plate m and prevented from turning by thesteady-pins a is .a bearing-block 1), extending a short distance withinthe sleeve 0 beneath 'thefoot-step e, which normally rests and turnsthereon. The

bearing-block p is provided with an outer flange q of a widthsubstantially equal to the thickness of the bearing face or shell of thefoot-step e;- Shallow radial grooves (see Fig. 4:) are cut in thebearing-face of the flange q of the bearing-blockp, through whichgrooves oil will pass from the reservoir to the bearingsurfaces of thefoot-step c, the sleeve 0, and the split collar j, thus assuring perfectlubrication.

When the step-bearing block p becomes so worn as to require renewal, thebolts 9, which fasten the head m to the flanges (Z, are turnedsuccessively a short distance at a time, thus loosening the head We andpermitting the footstep c and the crane fastened thereto to descendslowly until the upper edge of the I groove 2' rests on the split collarwhich then sustains the entire weightof the crane. The head m may now bequickly removed from the sleeve 0 and a new step-bearing blocksubstituted, after which the head is again secured to the sleeve-flangeand the weight gradually shifted from the split collar 7' onto the newbearing-block as the bolts are screwed home.

Any oil contained within the reservoir A: will when the step-hearing isto be renewed or fresh oil admitted be withdrawn therefrom by means ofthe cock 0. The pipe Z may be used when desired to blow out and cleanthe reservoir k.

I do not confine myself to the use of a movable base or support for thecrane, as herein described, for in certain cases the base willbepermanent.

I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction,combination, and arrangement herein set forth, it being obvious thatminor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention may bemade by the skilled mechanic, and such departures from What is hereindescribed and claimed not involving invention I consider as within thescope and terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I cl'aim 1. Combined in a crane, afixed sleeve, a foot-step adapted to rotate and move vertically thereinand provided with a circumferential groove, a step-bearing block for thefoot-step, means for removably securing said step-bearing block, andmeans, in connection with said groove, for supporting the footstep afterthe removal of the step-bearing block, substantially as set forth.

2. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a foot-step carried therein andprovided with a circumferential groove, a removable stepbearing blockfor the foot-step, a plate bolted to the sleeve and carrying thestep-bearing block, and means, in connection with said groove, forsupporting the foot-step when the step-bearing block has been removed,substantially as set forth.

3. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a foot-step rotatable thereinand having a circumferential groove, a collar bolted to the sleevesurrounding the foot-step and extending into the groove, and a removablestepbear ng block, substantlallyas set forth.

4. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a

foot-step rotatably carried therein and having a circumferential groove,a collar fitting said groove and bolted to the upper end of the sleeve,a step-bearing block for the foot-step, and a plate removably attachedto the lower end of the sleeve for supporting the step-bearing block,substantially as set forth.

5. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a foot-step rotatably carriedtherein, a stepbearing block for the foot-step, a plate removablyattached to the lower end of the sleeve for supporting the step-bearingblock, and a collar surrounding the foot-step beneath a shoulder thereonfor upholding the weight of the crane when the step-bearing block isremoved, substantially as set forth.

6. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a hollow foot-step rotatablycarried therein, a

removable step-bearing block, means for supporting and holding thestep-bearing block against rotation, and means for admitting andwithdrawing oil to and from the hollow footstep and for cleaning it,substantially as set forth. I

7. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a rotatable foot-step in saidsleeve, a removable step-bearing block for the foot-step, and means,such as described, for sustaining the weight of the crane when thestep-bearing block is removed, substantially as set forth.

8. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a rotatable foot-step in saidsleeve, a removable step-bearing block for the foot-step, and a shoulderon said foot-step above the sleeve for supporting said foot-step whenthe step-bearing block is removed, substantially as set forth.

9. Combined in a crane, a fixed sleeve, a rotatable foot-step in saidsleeve, a removable step-bearing block for the foot-step, a shoulder onsaid foot-step, and a collar bolted to said sleeve and surrounding thefoot-step beneath the shoulder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

CHARLES H. HOWIjAND-SHERMAN. [L. 5.] Witnesses:

C. B. BULL, CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD.

